Mary Katherine Kelly (Nee: Eaton)

Mary Katherine Eaton, July 29, 1933-August 24, 2026

Mary (neé Eaton) Kelly was born in Orient, South Dakota, on July 29, 1933, to Josephine and Orville Eaton. She attended grade and high school in Orient and attend Mt. Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota for one year. She became a court reporter and worked in the Circuit Court in Rapid City, South Dakota, before going to Keflavik, Iceland, to work at a NATO base which was being built there.

She married Richard Kelly in 1958. They lived in St. Paul, Springfield, New Ulm, and Mankato before retiring to Florida in 1998. In 2006, they returned to live near Norwood.

Mary worked in her husband’s law office for some years. She returned to college at Minnesota State University in Mankato where she earned her BS, summa cum laude at age 62. She was a member of MENSA, served on the St. Raphael School Board in Springfield and spent years making rosaries for missions.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 68 years, Richard, five daughters, Janet, Virginia, Anne, Maureen and Elizabeth, and two sons, Joseph and Fr. Jonathan, 18 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren with 3 on the way.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Saint John Vianney College Seminary are appreciated. www.sjvseminary.org. Concelebrant priests are welcome and will vest in the Pope Benedict Room at SJV. Liturgical color will be Violet. Parking is limited. Please consider carpooling. St. Mark’s Catholic Church has offered their lot for us that day, which is four blocks away.